Losing weight with endometriosis

[tinkerbell971]

I used to be thin and a size 6/8 and now I'm a size 12. Ever since about 3 years ago when my endometriosis symptoms starting showing I have just piled the weight on. I have tried various different diets weight watchers, endo diet etc and just nothing. I will lose a couple pounds and then it will just go straight back on. I have been going to the gym now for nearly two months and have been eating gluten dairy free as well as only eating 1500 cals a day and I still haven't lost any weight. I am just at a standstill and I'm sick of it. I look like a whale and I really am not confident about my body any more like I used to be. Im only 20 and I'm constantly worrying about what people think of me and what clothes to wear and not wanting to go out because I'm embarrassed of what I look like.

Can endo stop you from losing weight???

[Hidden]

I had the same issue too. I become so much less active because of the way endo made me feel and sometimes just made it impossible to exercise. Then there was a lot of curled up in bed with a hot water bottle, cup of tea and a packet of biscuits, comfort eating and before you know I felt pretty unhealthy. Then the longer I left it, the harder it has become to get out again because I find exercise really tough... I'm now incredibly unfit and carrying a few more pounds. I really sympathise with you on this one. It's hard. I know I need to push myself in order to lose the weight again but pushing myself often aggravates endo symptoms so I just feel like it's a losing battle.

I manage to go running 1-2 times a week, but only if its a light 3-5k jog. I find this actually makes me feel a bit better in myself because I feel positive and healthier again getting the fresh air and being active. But I can't do any more than that. Unfortunately, I am not seeing any weight loss. But a least a feel a bit better mentally because I'm doing something instead of nothing. Im sorry I can't be any more helpful xxx

[tinkerbell971 in reply to Hidden]

I feel like it’s a waste of time me paying to go to the gym when I’m not seeing any results. I do feel better once I’ve been to the gym but I’m really struggling. I’m going on holiday in 6 weeks and just feel like a big whale I’m really self conscious about it. Nightmare isn’t it xxx

[Hidden in reply to tinkerbell971]

Absolute nightmare! I'm now a size 12 too. And I know that's not fat, it's just more the lack of toning of my body. It's just like my size 8-10 body has just got a bit wobbly and it's not good for confidence. Size wise i'm not big...but I have cellulite and stretch marks where I just put on weight so quickly... which is what concerns me most. That's what makes me so conscious.

And I find it embarrassing being so unfit now and finding everything so hard!

[tinkerbell971 in reply to Hidden]

That’s exactly me 😩

[princessk09]

I used to be a thin size 8/10 and now I’m a size 12/14 and it’s mainly bloating for me but it makes me look pregnant 😫 I struggle to lose weight no matter how healthy I am or how much I exercise.

I’m 19 so I know how shit you feel as I can’t wear nice tops like before and I’m scared of my boyfriend seeing me in a couple of weeks as I’ll be so bloated from being on my period and stuff.

I’m still waiting for a lap but my doctors think it’s endo. I was on so many hormone pills last year, it caused me to put a lot of weight on. I still go gym as it’s like my safe haven and a place to release stress etc.

I think endo can stop you losing weight as the hormones are out of balance but I’m not 100% sure xx

[Nkemdilim]

Sorry you are feeling this way, I can sympathise as prior to my lap and my endo getting really bad I was on a steady weight loss journey but that has all been brought to a standstill. However, I have maintained the weight I was prior to my laparoscopy despite having a high level of pain and not wanting to exercise, by healthy eating and doing very gentle exercises that focus on toning and strength. I do yoga, pilates and bodybalance classes. Classes are great as they keep you going by having people around you. Prior to the lap I did weights at the gym at least twice a week and played netball weekly.

I have reduced my portion sizes and I also do physiotherapy exercises and exercises from my osteopath. Have you been to a physio or an osteopath? I found that helped a lot with my posture and strength: they gave me pelvic floor, abdomen and lower back exercises to do. It is frustrating as I would love to be running around the netball court and lifting weights again but I know this is unrealistic at 8 weeks post op.

[tinkerbell971 in reply to Nkemdilim]

I haven't really thought about going to see an osteopath I will look into it x

[Catness]

In an odd twist I weigh less now than I did pre endo-diagnosis and I have the mirena coil. I do find however I put on weight really quickly so I have the ‘my fitness pal app’ and try and follow the endo diet. It sounds like maybe a trip to the GP wouldn’t be a miss as if you are only eating 1500 calories a day and still gaining weight something else may be causing this?

[tinkerbell971 in reply to Catness]

That is what I use to track what I'm eating etc. I have an appointment with my gynaecologist on Tuesday so I will mention it to him x

[Leenie0811]

Can completely sympathise with you on this one I’ve tried all sorts of things to keep my weight off I used to be a comfortable size 6 all round and being 5ft 1 it really showed when I ballooned with endo, people often asking if I was expecting and I’m like no it’s just my period.

It’s coming up to a year since I had my lap and Ive tried all sorts to keep the weight down, I mainly eat a Mediterranean style diet and this has helped symptom wise but I think the best thing for me was changing what’s called my “eating window”

The eating window method has research behind it but putting it simply when your body is running on energy it will use fat stores to keep you going until you eat something then because of the glucose spike your body goes into like a carb burning mode so those people that graze a lot all day aren’t burning fat they are in a “carb burning mode”

If you put your food for the day into a 6-8 hour eating window you minimise the amount of time your body has to activate the glucose/blood sugar regulators and untimately run from the fat. For me this works a treat I have my first meal between 10 and 12 then my last at 6; it was hard at first but now I’m into the swing of it I’ve been slowly dropping the weight.

Also changing out processed food did a lot for me I cook from scratch and eat a vegetarian/vegan diet now only rarely will I have meat simply because I prefer the meals I make without it, its too heavy on my stomach and digestion.

Hope this helps

[tinkerbell971 in reply to Leenie0811]

I will look into the eating window. I struggle so much with food because I don't like fruit or veg and working 12.5 hour shifts at least three times a week I just end up eating chicken with a gluten free sauce and rice because its easy x